Identifying appliance



Filed Sept. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.- fiaf/sZc'vc/f April 1929- c. s. RAILSBACK 1,709,321

IDENTIFYING APPLIANCE Filled Sept. 19, 1925 2 sheets-sue: 2

Z4 50 30 V wr' a r Ii. /2.

INVENTOR.

/9 J Ban/$600k Y Fl g. l9 9 x T0RNEY.

Patented Apr. 16, $29,

UNITE SATES CHARLES S. RAKLSBACK, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

:"LDENTIFYING APPLIANCE.

Application filed September 19, 1925.

This invention relates to means for the identification of motor-driven vehicles and its primary object is to provioe ir connection with an appliance bearing a license number, tactory number, name, date or other identifying matter, a means for hastening the same to a tilted part of the vehicle so that it cannot be removed except by irreparable destruction.

finother object ot the invention is to provide by the use of an appliance ot' the above de cribed character, means to prevent mutilation or alteration ot the factory number of the vehi which is usually stamped or cast in the motor block or other lined part; thereot By the use of the invention. a legal trans 'ter oi a motor vehicle can be made only by the rig htt ul owner of the car s nce it prevents fraiululcnt alteration oil the number or other data that establishes the identity of the vehicle and thereby secures the purchaser act .rement of stolen property. The protective identificat on appliance may be atiixed to the vehicle either by the manui'acturer or under control ot the state, county or municipality in which the vehic es are licensed and the invention includes two ditierent forms operating on the same principie but individually adapted for the purposes above referred to.

In the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the invention in the form best adapted for application by the manufacturer of the vehicle;

Figure 5:, a partially sectional side-elevation of the same, drawn to a reduced scale:

Figure 3., a longitudinal section of the con st ut-tiou shown in Figure 1;

Finn! a fragmentary section of an end portion of the device showing the identifying member thereot in its loci-(ed position on tit-'5 relatively stationary member:

Figure 5. a transverse section taken on the line ilii. in Figure 3:

Figure (3. a partially sectional plan view of the device in the form be t adapted for appti ':n1i .,i at the time the license under which the vehicle is operated, is issued by the proper authorities;

i i 'ure T, a longitudinal section oi the device snown in Figure 6;

Figure 8. a perspective View of the device iihr trated Figures 6 and 7, drawn to a reduced scale;

Serial No. 57,445.

Figure 9, a cross section on the line ti t), Figure 7;

Figure 10, a partially sectional side-elcvzr tion of the device with the identifying part thereof in its locked position on the relatively stationary part;

Figure 11, a perspective view of a moditied form of the stationary part of the device illustrated in Figures 6 to 10; and

Figure 12, a 'tragmentary longitudinal seei i along the line 1212 in Figure 11.

Re'terring tirst to l igures 1 to 5, L5 desig natesa part of the motor bloc; of an automobile, 3 a member of the appliance bearing the factory number of the car or engine, and at the protective identification member which normally is fastened upon the member 3 so that it can not be removed except by irreparable destruction.

The stationary member 3 has means for cooperation with a locking device to fasten the inen'iber a in the above stated manner but it to be understood that while for convenience in manufacture, it is preferred to brovidc said means through the medium of a separately made member bearing the factory number and fastened upon the motor block both the means and the nnmber may be form-rd directly on the engine body in which case the identification member and the lock-- ing device are the only separate parts ap plied to the vehicle for the purpose of the invention.

The fixed member 3 of the appiiance consists of an oblong bar 5 of dove-tail section and provided with an integral head (3 at one end, a recess 7 for the locking device adjacent its opposite end, and the factory number s formed in either raised or sunken figures in a lengthwise extending depression.

The member is fastened upon the motor block by bevel-headed screws 9 titted in come tersunl; openings at opposite en ls ot' the member.

The identiticzr -n member cmnprist-s a block having in its bottom surface a slideway '10 of dove-tail section corresponding in form with the body portion oi the tixcd men her, so that the one member may slide lengthwise upon the other member while being secured against vertical displacement.

The member 4 has between two solid endportions. a longitudinal opening 12 to expose the number 8 on the stationary member and the opening is covered by a bar l3 extending tit) ti l) between the end-portions of the block in integral connection therewith and spaced from the sides of the block between said portions.

The sides of the bar and the corresponding edges of the sight-opening are beveled and rounded as best shown in Figure 5 in order to atl ord an unobstructed view of the number on the stationary member when the ideatifyingn'iember is in place thereon.

The bar 13 of the member bears on its upper surface a number 14 formed of cast or stamped figures, which corresponds with the factory number on the stationary member, and the corresponding surface of the end portions of the block between which the bar extends, bears other identification matter tor example, the model oi the automobile, the name of the veh cle or the name of the iminutacturers thereof, the serial number of the vehicle and other similar data. all ct which contribute to unmistakably establish the identity ot the vehicle to whirl].

the invention is aoplied.

It is furthermore of advantage to torm in raised or sunken characters, a name or number along the edges of the block at opposite sides oi its sight-opening, as at 15, so that said edges cannot be filed down to afford access to the immber on the stationary memher for fraudulent alteration, without immediate detection.

The block has on its underside a shouldered recess 16 wnich normally registers with the recess 1 of the stationary men'iber as shown in Figure t, and it has furthermore a longitrs dinal depression 17 spaced from the recess 16 to permit of sliding the block upon the stationary member without undue tensionin; oi the locking member.

The locking member above referred to consists ol a preferably V-shaped catch 12'] ot spring-inetal which lies loosely in the rek'( -t.- T of the stationary member and project:-; above the upper surt'aciot' the body portion of the same.

n the block is slid upon the stationary r the projecting end of the catch mo :1 the depression 11' in the bottom of e blihli and thus does not interfere with e movenu-ai the block until it engages rid e hetnren the depression 17 and the as 16 when by c ntinn-t l movemen (it the r a. i is momentarilr depressed and contraoted hv the con act ot' the ridge after which it s; rings nto the rece:-s and thereb locks the dock against backward motioi Further l orward n'lorement oi the block is prevented by the head 6 on the stationary member 3, which is engaged by the end of the block at the time the spring enters the recess of the same.

The above described form of the i mention is particularly suited for use by the manufacturers of motor vehicles to s; 't'eguard their customers against theft, although with a terations, the device as she vn may used by government ot'licials at licr-=r e- (a is to protect the owners of licensed cars. For the last mentioned purpose, however, the term ot the invention illustrated in Figrr-Gs' (3 to it) is better adapted since it includes the use of a locking device which performs the function of a license and can be obtained at little expense.

The modified construction comprises a nember 3 iilQll on the motor body or other gtationary part of the automobi e, bearing the factory nunmer and identical to the correspondiinj; member of the first described. form with the QXCPl il0l1 th t the recess 7 s eliminated and the head 2 of the bar 19 r h app ication of the locking device as wi l hereinatter be 5 provided with a slot 21 for dos l:

The bar l5) i: as bef'ore, secured by screws to'the motor blorl; and ti is ol' dove-tailed section tor the appliration ot the block l hr which the t'actory number is covered.

The blocl: of the mmlilied form of the invention is similar to that of the first described coiutruetion in that it has a dovetailed groove n its bottom surface for co-operation with the con nlingly shaped body of the fixed bar, and i that it bears upon its uppe illft -"O, a duplicate oi the factory number as it appez on the member 3.

The block turtl'iermore resembles the other between two end porspaced from the sid wh ich is ing's through which the number on the sta tionary member ol' the device may be observed.

One of the end portions of the block, however, is enlarged to term a hollow head 22 proa ided with a sl t 21 which when the slidhloolr member 1 is in place on the rela-- ationar member is n alinement d, slot 21 in thnl ti oi the latter.

st he iea her provides a p ritct or chamber 24. for the lock of the device by wh ch the two members are sum: rd against separation and it has a slanlin; sin-tare to t'arilitate the llsiliiif?! 1 t tilt l\)'t'l\.

'ihn lUt'liillLI (it"t'lit. lwi'oinhrt'ore r t'orri to, consist?- ol' :1 seal ot' the trim i onsnionl; used in twain; th doors oi? is omposmi t a pliable m al strap r. tr l at one einl to a housing; .26 wh tams a loch nier ,l. apertured free end oi the strap after th latter has been dorbled and end has been admitted to the loci; mechan 1v throu, h slot in the housing.

For the purpose ot the present invention, the pliable strap stamped to identification matter, as. for license number of thrvehicle shown at 2?,

the name of the state and the year durlit ing which the license is valid as indicated at 2) and 29.

The seal is applied to the protective identification appliance by inserting its lock in the chamber 24 and passing its strap through the alined slots 23 and 21. T he block member is then slid upon the relatively stationary member until its end enga es the head 20 after which the strap is doubled over the top of the head and inserted through th slot of the head 22 on the block, into the therewith alined opening of the lock-casing contained in the chamber or pocke The lock mechanism of the seal includes a member which enters the aperture in the free end of the strap and permanently fastens the strap in the lock so that the seal can not be removed without cutting and destroying the strap.

Owing to the fixed distance between the heads of the two members ot' the appliance, the strap of the seal is readily proportioned so that after its application in the above described manner, it will be stretched taut and thereby prevent of the seal being reused with a shortened strap after the latter has been severed for removal of the movable part of the device for the purpose of fraudulently altering the factory number of the car.

It will be apparent that in both forms of the invention the factory number on the engine block of the automobile is covered by the block so as to render it inaccessil'ile for alteration; that the openings in the block permit of reading the factory number on the engine at any time to compare it with the correspomling number on the block, and that the locking device in either case prohibits the removal of the member which covers the factory number, without irreparable destruction of an essential and irreplaceable element of the appliance.

In order to further guard against fraudulent alteration or mutilation of the number on the motor block, the numbers may be cast or stamped in depressions of the bar, divided by protective ribs 30 as illustrated in Figures it and 12.

it will be evident that the use of the invention prevents alteration or mutiiatiorl of the. car-number with fraudulentintent since the original number on the engine body is inaccessible to tools and since moreover it must correspond with the number of the protective member by which it is covered.

The cover member of the form illustrated in l ija'u e l to can. P );lit'l'ti fwiofiilifiii irreparable destruction and in the modified form it can not be separated from the relatively stationary part without destruction of the seal Which bears the license number. the name of the state and other identification marks.

The lastmentioned form has the further advantage of constituting definite proof of the ownership of the vehicle by the recordsof the government under which the license for the operation of the car was issued.

It follows that a car identified by the use of my invention in either form can he sold only by the person in whose name the property is recorded and that any attempt to dis pose of the property by a person other than the rightful owner will lead to im radiate discovery of the deceit.

lVhile my invention as herein described and illustrated in the drawings is particularly adapted for use in connection with metor vehicles, it may it so desired be also used for sealing gas meters and other devices identified by a serial number and requiring protection against unauthorized manipulation, adjustment, inspection or removal.

What I claim and dm ire to secure by l.etters Patent is:

1. An identifying appliance comprising an element bearing an identifying mark, a INC-illbe" having: a bar portion covering" the identifying mark and openings at the sides thereof through which the mark may be seen, and a locking device )ermanently seeming the member upon said element.

2. An identifying appliance comprising an element bearing an identifying mark, a mem her having a bar portion covering the identifying mark, an opening at a side tl'iereof, through which the mark may be seen, and an identifying mark alone an edge of the opening to prevent of its being widened without detection, and a lockingdevice permanently securing the member upon the element.

3. An identifying appliance. CODfPIlFiTIg a member composed of a body part formed to provide a guideway, and a head at an end of the body part, the member bearing an identifying mark upon its body part, means to se cure the member upon fixed part of an er- {Jinc or the like, a second member adapted to slide in the guide-way of the first member a ml including a bar port on adapted to cover the identifying mark. and an opening at a side thereof through which the mark may be seen when the second member occupies a position determined by the head on the first member, and a locking device permanently securing the second member upon the other.

4. An identitviup appliance comprisin a member composed of a body part formed to rovidc a guide-way. and a head at an end of the body part. the member bearing an identifying mark upon its ho ly part. means to secure the member upon a fixed part of an engine or the like, a second member adapted to slide in the guide-way of the first member and including a bar portion adapted to cover the it'lentitying mark, and an opening at a side thereof through which the mark may be seen when the second member occupies a position determined by the head on the first member, and a locking device permanently securing the second member upon the other, the second member bearing identifying data including a mark corresponding with that on the first member.

5. An identifying appliance comp ising an element bearing an identifying mark and having an apertured head, a member normally occupying a position relative to said element in which the identifying mark is covered, and having a pocket open at its imderside, and a seal having a lock in said pocke and a pliable strap bent around the apcrturcd head and hav i ,1 ent secured by the lock.

6. An identifying appliance comprising an element bearing an identifying mark, and having an aperturcd head, a member having a body part adapted to cover the identifying mark and bearing a corresponding mark and having opposite to the head, a pocket open at its underside, and a seal having a lock in said pocket, and a pliable strap extending over the body part of the member and bent around the apertured head with its ends wecured by the lock.

7. An identifying appliance con'iprising an element having an apertured head, a member normally occupying a determinate position relative to said element and having a pocke" open at its underside, and a seal having a lock in said pocket and a pliable strap bent around the apertured head and having its ends secured by the lock, said strap bearing identifying matter which is visible when the appliance is in normal position.

8. In an identifying appliance, the combb nation with an engine block bearing an identifying mark, a member having a sliding connection with the block and covering the mark in its normal position, and means, including an inaccessible lock, preventing the member from being slid from said normal position.

9. An identifying appliance comprising an element containing an identifying mark, a member having an integral part covering the mark on the element and having an opening adjacent said part through Which the mark can be seen, and means, including a lock, enclosed by said member, to fasten the member in position on ti o element, the lock being inaccessible except by breaking the member.

10. An identifying appliance comprising an element bearing an identifying mark, a member having a bar portion covering the mark and having an opening at a side thereof through which the mark may be seen, and a locking device securing the member upon said element.

11. An identifying appliance comprising in combination with an element bearing an identifying mark, a member normally oceu pying a position relative to said element, in which the identifying mark is cove ed, and a se; 1 locking the member in its said position on the element and composed of a doubled strap bearing identification matter, and a lo k, enclosed by said member, securing the ends of the strap.

12. An identifying appliance comprising an element having an identifying mark, a member covering said identifying mark and having an opening out of direct alinement with the mark, through which the mark may be seen, and means for securing the member against its removal without detection.

in testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CHARLES S. RAILSBACK. 

